Knife wiper



H. A. BURT KNIFE WIPER March 21, 1933.

Filed July 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR March 21, 1933. A BURT 1,902,434

KNIFE WIPER Filed July 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

INVENTOR f/ j A TT RNE Y3 Patented Mar. 21, 19 31;

UNITED; STATES PATENT 'FFHCE HAROLD A. BURT, or sr. ALBANS, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MERGENTHALER LINo:

TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF, NEW YORK KNIFE WIPER Application filed July 21,

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,582, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the orderin which their characters are to appear in print and then composed in line, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which presents it to the mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned 7 through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. At the time the matrices are being elevatedvand distributed, the cast slug is ejected from the mold and forced between a pair of trimming knives mounted on the vise frame and which dress down the sides of the slug and bring it to the proper thickness. Y 1

In these machines,-it is necessary at times to vary the vertical position of the first elevator during casting in order to bring about the proper alinement of the matrix characters with the mold slot. For instance, in theuse of matrices bearing characters up to 14 pt., the elevator is ordinarily allowed to descend to its lowermost level, whereas, in the use of matrices with characters ranging from 14 pt. to 42 pt., the elevator is arrested at a slightly higher level. In recent years, improvements have been made to adapt the machine to handle matrices with characters above 42 pt. and as high as 60 pt. and more, so that it has been necessary in the use of such matrics to arrest the elevator at a still higher level. For arresting the elevator at its higher levels, the vise frame is ordinarily provided with two pivoted fillerpieces or stop members, so constructed and arranged that either may be swung into or out of' operative position as desired, their construction and mode of operation being fully described in U. S. Letters Patent to D. S. F Kennedy, No. 1,595,947.

In these machines, it isalso the practice to 50 remove the shavings from the knives after a 1931. Serial No. 552,145.

slug has been trimmed and before the next slug is delivered therethru, and this is ordinarily accomplished by the, use;of aknife wiper which is controlled or actuated by the movement of the first elevator, either initsdescent or inits ascent. However, when the knife. wiper is actuated by v the downward movement of the first elevator and'the eleva-' tor is; arrested at its uppercasting levels, the wiper fails to make a complete wiping stroke full length of the 1 (i. e-. fails to travel the knife blades) ,and hence in casting full length slugs, some 'ofthe shavings are not removed from the knife blades and give rise to the undesirable features which the wiper was originally intended to eliminate.

Thepresent invention contemplates an arrangement wherebythe stroke of the knife I wiper may be kept constant, regardless of the level at which the elevator is arrested.- To this end, specifically, the elevator is provided 7 with a pivotally mounted lever, one arm of" whichis adapted to actuate the knife-wiping mechanism, and theother arm of. which is provided with an adjustable pin which is set to strike the vise frame shortly beforethe elevator comes to rest, thereby causing the lever arm to rock about its pivot a predetermined dlstance necessary to give a full stroke to the knife wiper. j

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein which will still be comprised withinits spirit. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form i or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the-drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the vise frame and elevator, showing the knife wiper at the beginning of its stroke, and showing the on the top of the vise frame to arrest the elevator at an upper level, and showing by the dotted lines the elevator arrested at its upper level and the lever rocked by the vise frame to give a full stroke to the knife wiper;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the rela tion of the several parts to one another; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken 'disc Bimmediately advances to bring the mold B into contact with the matrix line for the casting'of the slug, and after the slug is cast,the mold disc is retracted'and rotated to carry the mold from its horizontal casting position to'a vertical position immediately in front of an ejector (not shown),

which operatestoexpelthe slug from the mold and force it between a pair of trimming knives C, whence the slug is deliveredto a receiving galley (not shown) at the front of the machine. During the slug e ecting operation, the first elevator Aascends to its highest level to deliver the composed line to the distributing devices, and thereafter descends to its normal position of rest (shown in Fig. 1) in readiness to receive another composed line.

As already "stated, in casting slugs from matrices bearing characters of a s ze greater "than 14 pt., it is necessary to arrest the first elevator in its descent at levels somewhat higher thanthe level at which it is arrested when casting from matrices bearing characters of a size'under 14 pt. Ordinarily,'the elevator is arrested at its lowermost level by an adjusting pin 1), depending from the underside of the elevator head A and which strikes the top face E of the stationary vise frame E, wherein the elevator is slidably mounted as usual; In order to arrest the elevator at the higher levels, there are provided two filler pieces F and F, pivotally mounted on a rod 7 running transversely across the top of the vise frame. In practice, to arrest the elevator at an intermediate level, the filler piece F is moved into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, and to arrest the elevator at a higher level, the filler piece F is also moved intofactive position, the active portions f and f thereof being superimposed upon the active portions f? and f of the filler piece F. If more de tailed information is desired, reference may be had to the Kennedy Patent No. 1,595,947 above referred to.

As illustrated in the drawings,and as embodied in the commercial linotype machines, the trimming knives have associated therewith a wiping blade G arranged to move along the edges of the knives, the cleaning stroke being preferably downward or as the blade G moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. The blade G is supported by a rod 9, arranged at the back of the vise frame and guided inits vertical movement by a bracket 9 attached to said frame. not ride directly on the cutting edges of the knives,'the upper end of the rod 9 is formed with a projection 9, adapted to bear against the body of one of the trimming knives and to slide longitudinally thereon. At its lower end, the rod 9 is journaled in the hub portion 9 of alink member 9 which connects the rod 9 to a similar rod 9 at the front of the vise frame, the connecting member '9 being rigidly andadjustably secured to the rod 9 by the'nuts g and 9 A coiled spring 8, wound about the hub g and bearing against the rod 9, tends constantly to hold the wiper blade in proper relation. to the trimming knives. v

vThe wiping bladeG is held in its normal or raised position bya compression spring "9 surrounding the rod 9 and arranged be tween twofixed brackets H and H" on the 'stationary vise frame E, the upper or free end of the spring bearing against anadjusting nut 9 carried by the rod g and separated from the bracket H by a collar 9 For operating the knife wiper, there isordinarily provided a pin J, projecting from the elevator A and 'adapted'to strike the top. of the rod '9 as the elevator A descends, whereby the wiper is forced downward against the pressure of the, compression spring g which later raisesthe wiper back to its upper normal position as the elevator ascends.

The movement of theelevator when it descends tojits lowestcasting level is just enough to impart a full stroke to the knife wiper (see Figs. land 2) ,and it is obvious, therefore, that when the elevator is arrested at one or another of the higher casting levels, the wiper blade G will fail completely to traverse the cutting edges of the knives C and hence, when full length slugs arebeing cast, willfail to clean the lowermost ends of the knives.

The simple expedient provided by the present invention for obviating this undesirable feature consists of a lever O pivot-ally mounted on the first elevatorA as at O. Onearm 0 of the lever O is arranged between the pin,

J and the rod 9 while the other arm 0 of the lever is provided with an adjustable pin P,ladapted to be set in different positions thereon according to the level at which the first elevator is to be arrested. Except when the elevator descends to its lowermost level, the pin P is set to strike against the top face E of the vise frame E just before the elevator A comes to-rest, whereby the lever O In order that the blade G will is rocked about its pivot O and the moveprovided a bolt 10 (see Fig. 5) screwed to the pin P and passing through a longitudinal slot o 'cutthrough the wall of the: boss P, the screw. bolt 37 beingprovided with a knob or handle 10' containing. acompression spring 72 which tends Constantly to move the; knob inwardly on the screw boltr The'longitudinal edges of the slot 0 are formed with opposed notches 0 which form with the slot a series; of superposed circular openings 0* of a size to accommodate the inner end 10 of the knob go. With this arrangement, it is possible, after pulling outwardly on the knob .p'against pressure of the spring 10 to adjust the pin P upwardly or downwardly in the boss P and then to lock said pin in its adjusted ,position by releasing the knob and allowing its inner end 79? to engagein one or another of the circular openings 0. Since the elevator hereinis intended to be arrested at only three different levels, provision has been made for setting thepinP in as many different positions only. It hardly needs to .be stated that thenumber of different positions of the pinjP could be readily increased to accord with the number of different levels at which the elevator is to be arrested. In

order that a finer adjustment of the multiplying action of the lever .0 may be had, the

pin P (Fig. 5) is provided with a screw 19, which may be adjusted to protrude more or less therefrom.

The operation of the parts will now be clear: The elevator A, having received a composed line of matrices M, positions the same in proper casting relation to the mold B. If the matrices bear characters less than 14 pt. in size, the elevator is permitted to descend to its lowermost level, as in Fig. 2, in order to aline the matrix characters with the mold slot 6, and hence the pin P is set in its uppermost position in the boss P as shown. In the descent of the elevator, the arm 0 of the lever O, which in this example acts merely as an interponent between the pin J and the upper end of the rod g causes the latter to move downward against the pressure of the compression spring 9 until the elevator is arrested by contact of the pin D with the top E of the vise frame E, and this. downward movement of the rod 9 is sufficient to cause the knife wiping blade G to traverse the entire length of the knife edges, or in other words, (because of the full descent of the elevator) tomake a complete wiping stroke (compare Figs. 1 and 2).

If, however, as a rurther example, the

matrices carried by the elevator should happen to be of a size greater than 42 pt., both filler pieces F and F are swung into active position, as'in Fig. 3, and the elevator will therefore be arrested in its descent at its uppermost levelas indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, due to the fact of course that the pin D strikes against the filler piecesrather' than directly on thetop of the vise frame.

The actual movement of the elevator is con sequently less than inthe former example, and hence, to compensate for this, the pin P is set in its lowermost position within the boss P as shown in Fig. 3. As' aresult, just.

before the elevator is arrested by the pin-D. the lower end of the pin P will strike against thetop E of the vise frame E and rock the lever O counterclockwise about its pivot O, causing the arm 0 to depress the rod g raway from the pin J for adistance sufficient to complete the strokeof the'wiper G (see the dotted line showing in Fig; 3). H x

If the line of matrices bear characters ranging between 14 pt. and 42 pt'., only the one'filler piece F is moved into active position for the arrest of the elevator at an intermediate level, and to compensate for-the incomplete descent of'the elevator in this case, the pin P is set in its intermediate position in the boss P, the lever 0 being rocked to a less extent than before but suiiiciently' to complete the stroke of thewiper G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 5 1. In aslug casting machine, the combination may be kept uniform regardless of the casting position of the transporter.

2. In a slug casting machine, the combination of an elevator, adjustable means for arresting the elevator'at one or another of dif-,

ferent casting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and operativeconnections between the elevator and the knife wiper whereby the active or wiping stroke of the latter is imparted thereto by the downward movement bf the elevator, said connections includinguan adj ustable actuating element carried by the elevator and arranged to engage a stationary partof the machine and adapted to be set in one or another ofdifl'erent positions according to the level at which the elevator is to be arrested, whereby the wiping stroke of the knife wiper may be kept uniform.

' 3. In a slug casting machine, the combination of an elevator, adjustablemeans for artion of a line transporter, means for varying the casting position of the transporter, slug resting the elevator atone or.- another of different casting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with thecknives, and operative connections between the elevator and the knife wiper whereby the active or wiping strokeiof the latter isimparted thereto by the downward movement of the'elevator, said connections including a pivoted actuating lever carried by the elevator and provided at one end with an adjustable element arranged to engage a stationary part of the machine and adapted to be set in one or another of different positions according to the level at which the'elevator is to be arrested, whereby the wiping strokeof the knife wiper may be kept constant or uniform. I

4:.- In a slug casting machine,'the combination of an elevator, adjustable means for arresting the elevator atone or, another-of different casting'levels, apair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and operative connections between the elevator and the knife wiper whereby the active or wiping stroke of the latter. is imparted thereto by the downward movement of the elevator, said connections including a pivotally mounted actuating lever carried by the elevator, one arm of said lever being formed with a cylindrical boss housing an adjustable pin adapted'to contact with a stationary part of the machine before the elevator comes .to

rest in its casting position, 1

A combination as 111 claim 4, whereinthe wall of the cylindrical boss is formed with a longitudinal slot and a series of opposed notches cut in the, edges of said slot so as to form with the slot a series of openings, and wherein the adjustable pin is provided with a locking detent adapted to engage in one or another of said openings.

6. A combination as in claim 4, wherein the wall of the cylindrical boss is formed with a longitudinal slot and a series of opposed notches cut in the edges of said slot so as to form with the slot a (series of, openings, and

wherein the adjustable pin is provided with a locking detent to engage in one or another of said openings, said dctent being in the form of a spring actuated knob slidably mounted on a bolt 01' the like attached to the pin and projecting through the slot in the boss. l

'4'. A combination as in claim 4, wherein the adjustable pin is provided with an adjusting screw projecting beyond the lower end thereof.

8. In a slug casting machine, the combination of an elevator, adjustable means for arresting the elevator at one or another of differentcasting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, operative connections between the elevator and the knife wiper whereby the'active or wiping stroke of the latter is impartedtheretorby the downward movementof the elevator, said connections including a verticallydisposed rod .slidable fixed guides and connected to the knife wiper, a spring connected to the rod and serving normally to move it upwardly, and adjustable means on the elevator for engagingthe rod in the descent of the elevator and moving the rod downwardly to actuate the knife wiper.

9. In a slug casting machine, the combination of an elevator, adjustable means for an move it upwardly, and a pivoted lever carried by the elevator for moving the rod downwardly, said lever having an adjustable pinarranged to engage a stationary part of the machine in thedownward mov'ementof the elevator.

10. In a slug casting machine, the com.- bination ofan elevator, adjustable means'for arresting the elevator at one or another of different casting levels, a pairof slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and operative connections between the elevator and the knife wiper whereby the active-'orwiping strokebf the-latter is imparted thereto by the downward movement of the elevator, said connections including a vertically disposed rod slidablein fixed guides and connected to the knife wiper, a coil spring 7 surroundingsaid rod and hearing at its lower end on one of the fixed guides and atits "upper or free end against a nut or collar attached to the rod, a laterally projecting pin carried by the elevator and arranged in line with the vertically disposed rod, and a cen- 'trally pivoted .lever also carried by the elevator, one end of the lever being interposed between the laterally projecting pin and the upper end of the rod, and the opposite end of the lever being provided with an adjust- T able pin adapted to contact with a fixed part of the machine inv the downward movement of the elevator.

11. In a slug bination of a vertically movable elevator,

adjustable means for arresting the elevator at one or another of different casting levels, a

pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and direct connecti one between the elevator and the knife wiper casting machine, the comwhereby the downward movement of the ele- V vator will effect the downward movement of the knife wiper without multiplication, said connections including an ad ustable element adapted when'the elevator is arrested above its lowermost casting level to multiply the downward movement of the knife wiper so as to impart a, uniform stroke to the Wiper regardless of the raised level at which the elevator is arrested.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

HAROLD A. BURT. Q 

